
About Lesson
Wireless Media
Connect devices using wired and wireless media.
Properties of Wireless Media
- It carries electromagnetic signals representing binary digits using radio or microwave frequencies. This provides the greatest mobility option. Wireless connection numbers continue to increase. Some of the limitations of wireless:
-
- Coverage area – Effective coverage can be significantly impacted by the physical characteristics of the deployment location.
- Interference – Wireless is susceptible to interference and can be disrupted by many common devices.
- Security – Wireless communication coverage requires no access to a physical strand of media, so anyone can gain access to the transmission.
- Shared medium – WLANs operate in half-duplex, which means only one device can send or receive at a time. Many users accessing the WLAN simultaneously results in reduced bandwidth for each user.
Types of Wireless Media
- The IEEE and telecommunications industry standards for wireless data communications cover both the data link and physical layers. In each of these standards, physical layer specifications dictate:
-
- Data to radio signal encoding methods
- Frequency and power of transmission
- Signal reception and decoding requirements
- Antenna design and construction
- Wireless Standards:
-
- Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) – Wireless LAN (WLAN) technology
- Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15) – Wireless Personal Area network (WPAN) standard
- WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) – Uses a point-to-multipoint topology to provide broadband wireless access
- Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) – Low data-rate, low power-consumption communications, primarily for Internet of Things (IoT) applications
Wireless LAN
- In general, a Wireless LAN (WLAN) requires the following devices:
-
- Wireless Access Point (AP) – Concentrate wireless signals from users and connect to the existing copper-based network infrastructure
- Wireless NIC Adapters – Provide wireless communications capability to network hosts
- There are a number of WLAN standards. When purchasing WLAN equipment, ensure compatibility, and interoperability. Network Administrators must develop and apply stringent security policies and processes to protect WLANs from unauthorized access and damage.
Other related topics
Topic Title | Topic Objective |
---|---|
Purpose of the Physical Layer | Describe the purpose and functions of the physical layer in the network. |
Physical Layer Characteristics | Describe characteristics of the physical layer. |
Copper Cabling | Identify the basic characteristics of copper cabling. |
UTP Cabling | Explain how UTP cable is used in Ethernet networks. |
Fiber-Optic Cabling | Describe fiber optic cabling and its main advantages over other media. |
Wireless Media | Connect devices using wired and wireless media. |
Other useful information
- Full CCNA Course
- CCNA Certificate Information
- 200-301 CCNA Exam Questions and Solutions
- 200-301 CCNA Exam Topics
Join the conversation